The lowdown: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek offers excellent tips and guidance for individuals who are in positions of leadership, not excluding those that are still aspiring or are already on the path.
Introduction
This book is based on the classification of games into two categories: finite and infinite. Life falls under the category of infinite games. Finite games like basketball, scrabble, golf, chess, generally involve games that are played under the observation of certain rules, patterns, and traditions, usually with an ultimate aim of coming out on top. They are generally well-organized in contrast to the case of infinite games.
Infinite games do not follow any particular set of rules nor do they have any governing body. They are games that require you to prove your worthiness of participation and stay ahead of other participants. Another example of a member of this category is business. A perfect case study would be that of the renowned Swiss army knife producing company, Victorinox. This company’s resilience was put to the test when the 9/11 saga prompted a ruling against the possession of the Swiss Army Knife airplanes. The company responded by shifting the focus from its main product the Swiss army knife and delved into other products like watches, fragrances, etc. This showed their willingness to be flexible to stay relevant in the coming generations. Politics can also qualify as an infinite game.
- Audible Audiobook
- Simon Sinek (Author) – Simon Sinek (Narrator)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/15/2019 (Publication Date) – Penguin Audio (Publisher)
In summary, the three major lessons I learned in this book are:
- Focus on playing the infinite game.
- There are five essential rules to playing the infinite game.
- There is no winning in an infinite game.
Lesson 1. Focus on playing the infinite game
Let’s take learning and training as our case of study. Education probably has an end-goal of developing an expert and having the satisfaction of fulfillment. This can be classified under the finite games because there is an endpoint where you are made to believe you have reached the peak. Learning, on the other hand, is quite different. It typically never stops, hence making it an infinite game. Learning, however, should be the focus of an individual, rather than just training.
Lesson 2. There are five essential practices in playing the infinite game
Infinite games are games that are guided by no set of rules or regulations. However, to crush the infinite game in the business industry, Simon Sinek has provided five essential practices that should be duly observed. The five essential practices include:
- Advance a just cause.
- Build trusting teams.
- Study your worthy rivals.
- Prepare for existential flexibility.
- Show the courage to lead.
Lesson 3. There is no winning in an infinite game
Yes, in an infinite game, you neither win nor lose. The only existing terms are ahead or behind. It is a lifetime game where you have to make sure you stay relevant for as long as forever (until you can’t anymore). In life, your participation ends when you die, but in business, it probably never ends. Since work stays longer than life, the legacy can only be passed. This legacy will only stand the test of time if it is well-managed and passed on to good players. You can only be a good player if you have the full knowledge of the features of the game you are playing. Organizations that have no idea of the nature of the game they are playing, play with cluelessness and eventually end up getting bested by obstacles.
My Personal Takeaway
At some point in our lives, we will be faced with situations that will warrant us to take total control and provide solutions. The infinite game points out the tools you can use to understand which game you and your organisation is playing, and how that can drive performance today, tomorrow, and in the future.
Put Into Action
- Know your game.
- Start making decisions based on years to come, rather than just present.
- Learn to draw courage and motivation from your environment.
- Be prepared for surprises.
- Start treating your business and life in general as infinite games
Not a lot of people agree they hear that life is a game, but Simon Sinek, in this book, implores people in leadership positions to think otherwise to build a healthy organization. Anyone in a leadership capacity will find this book extremely helpful and eye-opening.
a Swedish university student, marketing professional, and life-long learner. Here at BookSummaryClub I summarize my favorite non-fiction books into easily digested posts. Hope you like what you’re reading!
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